비밀의 열쇠로서의 여성 —번연의『천로역정』과 크리스티애나의 천로역정

Abstract

This essay examines the ways in which Bunyan’s heroine, Christiana, establishes her identity as an essential and leading figure of a pilgrimage, independent of Christian, the hero. As indicated in the “Author’s Preface,” Christiana functions as a key to unlocking secrets left from joint sessions with her husband. This role is merely solidified when she receives an invitation from the Lord via Secret, an allegorical figure, waiting to be unveiled. Through the performance in the Interpreter’s House, Christiana displays a capacity of understanding, no less deep than Christian’s and demarcates a gendered sphere of interpretation distinctive from the one occupied by Christian. Christiana’s identity as a key to unlocking Christian’s secrets is shown most powerfully in terms of her exercising her female spiritual principles. Her sensitive response to the burden of interpretation forms the basis of principles, epitomized as sympathy and sacrifice. In particular, through imaginatively experiencing Christ’s sacrifice and suffering, she emotionally internalizes his spirit and morality. The female principles that are strengthened in the model of Christ help to overcome all the obstacles and difficulties faced by the pilgrim community. Whereas Christian concentrates his own salvation, Christiana puts her first priority in successfully completing the communal pilgrimage. Through this pilgrimage, she, in turn, breaks the curse of Eve as a bearer of sin and destruction and is reborn as Maria, a mother of life and model of patience. Through this pilgrimage, she also recognizes fear as a source of emotional power rather than a hindrance to the pilgrimage. In other words, she recognizes how fear, by emphasizing respect for God, can propel rather than hinder the journey towards salvation. That is how the community of the physically or spiritually weak and exhausted in Part II arrive safely at their destination. They follow the example set by Christiana, who fears God and embodies sacrifice and sympathy. In Christiana, we can thus see Bunyan’s intention to create a heroine equal to the hero.